KCAD adds new position, aims to connect business community to university

Ken Krayer has been named the inaugural Kendall College of Art and Design, Ferris State University (KCAD) Director of Business Engagement.   

Krayer says his role will be "getting KCAD out in the business community and the business community into KCAD," a process that will ultimately help both the students and the area businesses.

"West Michigan is a hot place to be from a student's perspective. Most of Kendall's students want to stay in area," says Krayer, who says his program will help increase the awareness in the business community of the talent and skills of Kendall grads plus educate the student about the opportunities to build a career or a business in West Michigan.

Krayer says he is working on creating several "pop-up" lecture series at KCAD, and will be bringing in local professionals to meet with students in an informal settings. He says he will also work closely with Design West Michigan and the local chapter of AIGA throughout the process of formalizing his program.

Krayer has experience in both higher education and professional design. He's taught at California College of the Arts, the College for Creative Studies and he currently teaches Design Practice as an adjunct professor in both the Collaborative Design program and the Industrial Design program. Private sector experience includes consulting, and he has worked at both Haworth and Steelcase.

To learn more about Krayer, you can visit his blog here. To follow Kendall, you can visit their site here.

Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs News Editor
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